Referendum on the Seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Election of Members of Seanad Éireann by Institutions of Higher Education) Bill, 1979

Polling at the referendum took place on Thursday, 5th July, 1979 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. A referendum on adoption took place on the same day. The following statement for the information of voters on the subject matter of the referendum was prescribed in the Referendum (Amendment) Act, 1979:

“GREEN BALLOT PAPER THE SEVENTH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION (ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF SEANAD éIREANN BY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION) BILL, 1979, proposes the election by universities and other institutions of higher education specified by law of such number of members of Seanad éireann, not exceeding 6, as may be specified by law. Those so elected would be in substitution for an equal number of the members elected at present (3 each) by the National University of Ireland and the University of Dublin. The Bill also proposes that nothing in Article 18 of the Constitution shall prohibit the dissolution by law of those Universities.”

The total number of votes recorded in favour of the proposal was 552,600 and the total number recorded against the proposal was 45,484. As the proposal was duly approved by the people, the Bill was signed by the President on 3rd August, 1979 and promulgated as a law.

Result Summary

Electorate:	2,179,466
Total Poll:	622,646
Percentage Poll:	28.57%
Votes in favour of the proposal:	552,600
Votes against the proposal:	45,484
Invalid Ballot Papers:	24,562